MONNING APPOINTED TO CHAIR ASSEMBLY HEALTH COMMITTEE

(SACRAMENTO, CA) – Assemblymember Bill Monning (D-Carmel) was appointed by the newly elected Assembly Speaker John Perez as the Chair of the Assembly Committee on Health.  

Assembly Health Committee has the primary jurisdiction over health care policy issues such as Medi-Cal, mental health licensing of health and health-related professionals, and long term health care facilities.  The Assembly Committee on Health does not have jurisdiction over the funding of health related issues. 

 “I am looking forward to the challenge of Chairing a new public policy area, especially

given the possibility of changes in health care coverage at the federal level,” stated Assemblymember Monning.  “We need to help the growing number of uninsured Californians who do not have access to basic medical services, as well as help the physicians and healthcare professionals who are trying to provide all Californians with quality care.”

As Chair of the Assembly Committee on Health, Assemblymember Monning will no longer be Chair of the Assembly Committee on Labor and Employment, but will remain a member of the Labor and Employment Committee.  

In addition to Chairing the Assembly Health Committee, Assemblymember Monning also serves as a member on the Assembly Committees on Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism and Internet Media; Environmental Safety and Toxics Materials; and Judiciary, as well as being a member of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee. 

The Assemblymember went on to state, “Speaker Perez is establishing himself as the new leader in the Assembly and it is an honor to be asked to serve as the Chair of such an active and high profile committee on the Assembly Health Committee.” 

Assemblymember Monning was elected to represent the 27th Assembly District in 2008.  The 27th Assembly District includes the cities of Capitola, Santa Cruz and Scotts Valley in Santa Cruz County; as well as the cities of Carmel, Marina, Monterey, and Seaside in Monterey County; and the city of Morgan Hill in Santa Clara County.  Prior to his election to the Assembly, Assemblymember Monning was a professor at the Monterey College of Law and a Professor of International Negotiation and Conflict Resolution at the Monterey Institute of International Studies.